The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-02-24
WASHINGTON CITY IN 1862.
Overrun by the RiG-RaH Of all Cree.
tion-what q War Correspondents Saw.

Overrun by the Rid-Ra6 OF all Creo.
tion-What a War Correspondents Saw.
Washington at the time went there in
July, 1862, was a cesspool into which drained
all the iniquity and filth of the nation It
was filed with runaway negroes, contract
ors, adventurers, Office seekers, gamblers,
confidence men, courtesans, uniformed
officers Sinking their duty, and the riff-raff,
the offscourings of all creation. Tho streets
were dirty the hotel but little better than
kennels, the boarding houses unclean and Ok
tortionate, and, although there was . pre-
tense that Intoxicating liquors were not sold,
drink could be had anywhere and universal
drunkenness prevailed
In addition to these characteristics the city
was immense hospital Every church
was occupied by the sick and wounded; the
aisles, galleries and ante rooms were thronged
with patients. Every vacant lot was occu-
pied with long, low, temporary structures
devoted to the victims of the war. Nearly
every house Of more than ordinary magni-
tude had sentry in front of it, while the
pale faces at the windows indicated the use
to which it was being put by the authorities.
All the heights about the city for miles were
covered with whitewashed buildings, which
were crammed with sick and wounded Fed
eral soldiers
had little hospital experience which is
at least curious if not very interesting. 1
encountered one day an old acquaintance,
DIR. Robert Thomas, whom had known in
the west, and who informed me that he was
in charge of a Kalarama hospital, and in
vited me to visit him. I agreed, and we
were soon whirling out into the suburbs in
an ambulance and behind q speedy pair of
horses which the government had placed at
the disposition Of the surgeon Kalarama
heights, the name indicates, is a beautiful
location, none more so being at that time in
the vicinity of the capital. On the grounds
was a magnificent building which had once
belonged to the famous Joel Barlow, but
which had been taken by the government
for n hospital. We dl owe through magnif-
cent surroundings and finally found ourselves
seated in a sumptuously furnished drawing
room which the doctor reserved for the re-
ception of visitors. He produced some bot
ties of wine, which, being excellent in quail
ity, the weather hot, and we very thirsty
after the drive, were swallowed with salts
faction and without limit.
An hour or so later tho hospital surgeon
invited me to look through the wards. He
had, he assured me, the model institution Of
the kind In tho north. We went through
splendid rooms, clean and palatial enough
for the residences of princes. In each there
were cots occupied by the soldiers, all of
whom seemed SO comfortable that thought
that being ill under such circumstances was
q luxury winch WOulu tempt SyDorlte.
The last room We visited was one occupied
by ''contrabands," concerning whom the
doctor remarked with a peculiar smile:
These are cases of variola nigra."
The play on the word nigra first attracted
my attention, and / responded with the
stereotyped "Ah, yes, very good!' and then
instantly there flashed over me the meaning
of the other word, variola.
'Good heavens! doctor, do you mean
smallpox"
That's the English Of it,"
"And you are in charge of a.
''Smallpox hospitali Yes, that's it. This
is the largest establishment of the kind in
the north, and the best, too, If do say it,"
l was shocked, alarmed, frightened, hor-
rified and intensely outraged at the trick
which had been perpetrated on me. / at
tempted the indignant; 1 mathematical the
doctor i'll the most vigorous English l could
command, and finally became silent for want
OF breath. AT length 1 determined to make
the most of the situation, and, supposing
that would be certain to have the disease,
i sent for my traps and resolved to remain
in the hospital till had the malady, so that
/ might receive proper treatment.
/ stayed at Kalarama for two months
waiting for an attack of smallpox. I went
freely through the wards, talked with the
patients, and made no effort to avoid the
contagion, / felt cerain that would be
attacked. At the end of two months had
experienced no symptoms of the disease and
becoming satisfied that l was, for the nonce,
smallpox proof, l moved back into the city.
-''Polinto' in Chicago Times.
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